Thursday, 13 October 2016

ACTING President Phelekezela Mphoko on Monday reportedly summoned
members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and roasted
them over their plot to arrest Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo
on corruption allegations.

Zacc spokesperson, Phyllis Chikundura, confirmed the meeting, but declined to disclose details.
“They met, but I was not privy to the discussions. Most of these
things will be covered at our Press conference tomorrow (today),” she
said.

This came as Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa told Parliament
yesterday that President Robert Mugabe was the only Zimbabwean citizen
immune to prosecution.
Moyo has since last week been under the public spotlight following a
foiled bid by Zacc investigators to arrest him on allegations of
siphoning close to $400 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund
(Zimdef) to finance various Zanu PF activities, including acquiring
bicycles for traditional leaders in his Tsholotsho North constituency.

“Mphoko began calling Zacc commissioners last week just after the politburo meeting,” an insider revealed.

“There has been a misconception that President (Robert) Mugabe
blocked Moyo’s arrest. The President actually asked Moyo to present
himself to Zacc and offer his side of the story. A sobbing Moyo then
lashed out at his factional enemies, including Mnangagwa.

“Moyo insisted the money from Zimdef had benefited Zanu PF and the President had been fully briefed.”

Zacc commissioners, led by board chairperson, Job Whabira, had reportedly initially refused to meet Mphoko, but later relented.

At the meeting, Mphoko allegedly accused the commission of pushing a factional agenda to destabilise the Zanu PF government.

“He also accused Zacc of selective application of the law, as well as
refusing to listen to his orders. It was a stormy meeting, with angry
exchanges, including a clash after one commissioner called Mphoko ‘VP’.
To which Mphoko retorted ‘I am the Acting President’,” an insider said.

The source said they showed Mphoko overwhelming evidence against Moyo
and it was agreed that only Mugabe could deal with the matter.

Moyo has defended his use of public funds to bankroll Zanu PF
activities and blasted his detractors for allegedly blowing the issue
out of proportion in a bid to settle political scores.

The Zanu PF politburo member has raised a social media storm,
accusing his political enemies of pursuing a factional and tribal
agenda. Moyo has also declared he would not submit to Zacc’s request for
an interview.

“Would you go to the mafia at midnight under the cover of darkness to clear your name?” he tweeted rhetorically.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa yesterday said Moyo was liable to prosecution.

He was responding to opposition legislators’ concerns over Mphoko’s
weekend claim that no Cabinet minister could be arrested without the
President’s say-so.

“All that we are supposed to take into cognisance is that it is only
the President, who has immunity, and all other persons in this country
can be arrested and are under the laws of this country,” Mnangagwa said.

“If there is someone who did not follow the laws, then go and report them to the authorities, so that they take action on them.

“Corruption can be tackled through the laws crafted by Parliament and
it is up to MPs to strengthen them and make them deterrent. If you
think there are loopholes in the anti-corruption laws, then amend them.”

The MPs also cited a case, where Mphoko, in July this year, allegedly
stormed Avondale Police Station in Harare and freed two Zinara
executives arrested on corruption allegations, and Mnangagwa challenged
them to submit proof of the incident.